Car-coupling



"(No Model.) A v H. BgWIL-LVIAMS.

GAR ColirLPLINcr.v

No. 295,706.1 4 Patented Mar. 25,' 1884;'

ww@ @my ,pin and the uncoupling device. .vertical section of thedraw-head and auto- NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. Y

HAMLINE B. WILLIAMS, OF GLENWOOD, IOWA.

GAR-Gourmand.`

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 295,706-, dated March25, 1884.

Application filed February 7, 1883. (No model.)

T0 @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HAMLTNE B.`W1LL IAMs, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Glenwood, in the county of Mills and State of Iowa,have invented a new and useful Car-- Coupling, of which the following isa specification.

My invention relates to improvements in` automatic car-couplings orself-couplings; and the objects of my improvement are, first, to reducethe number of pieces composing an automatic car-coupling to the minimum;second, to construct a machine for Vcar-coupling which is self-settingas well as self-coupling, and

which is capable of practical use and opera-` tion without the presenceof any person be-` minimum; seventh, to carry` the link in the center ofthe space in thedrawhead when tension is applied, thereby securing themaximum play or freedom. of motion; eighth, to prevent uncoupling by themotions of a train; ninth, to obviate the strain upon and tendency tobreaking of the link and pin of car-couplings arising from the linkbeing carried on the bottom plate of the draw-head. I attain `theseobjects by the. mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, inwhichi Figure l is a perspective view of that part of the draw-headwhich projects beyond the dead-wood, showing the top of the automaticFig. 2 is a matic pin or block through the line A B in in perspective,of `the beveled slot in the upper plate of the draw-head, in which theautomatic pin or block worksvertically. Fig. 6

is a vertical section of said slot. Fig. A7 is a perspective view of theconcave beveled shoulders or projections in the space in the draw-`head, which guide the link into position and hold it there for automaticcoupling. Fig. 8 is a plan of a part of the bottom of the space in thedraw-head, showing the beveled groove h, in which the link rests whenset for automatic coupling.

Similar letters refer to similar parts' throughout the several views.

. The draw-head, Fig. 1, is constructed in the common form, (with sidecouplings to strengthen heavy trains,) except in the followingparticulars: I make the upper plate thicker than the low'er one, to giveadditional strength at the outer bearing of the automatic piu or block,Fig. 1, c d. I make aslot in said upper plate, Fig. 5, la, an inch wide(more or less) and six inches long, more or less, with the outer endcircular, horizontal, or rounded in form, Fig. `5, la, and beveleddownward and outward, Fig. 2, r, sufiiciently to prevent the pin orblock having any tendency to fly out, and enough to give it a slighttendency to slip into the space iii the draw-head when tension isapplied by the link at the inner end, Fig.` 2, t'. (I use theterms innerand outer7 in speakingof the slot and the pin or block with reference tothe ends nearest and farthest from the car, respectively.) The inner endof the slot, Fig. 6, n, is made vertical for ashort distance (say halfan inch) and then is beveled downward and inward, Fig. 6, j, so that thevertical part forms a bearing for the pin, and the beveled portion ofthe slot below the vertical part per'inits the inner end of theautomatic pin oryblock, Fig. 4., a t p, to rise when pressed bythe linkuntil the link passes `behindfit and it drops (working freely verticallyin the slot) to make a coupling. The outer end of the slot is made atthe usual distance from the end of the draw-head. The draw-bar back ofthe slot is made in the usual form to fit wood-work and irons already onthe 9 5 roo y lll or block being forced `under the dead-wood, Fig. 1, Y,the same being si niplya shelf-shaped vertical projection of iron orother metal, braced as shown in Fig. 1. I use the ordinary appliancesAfor attaching the draw-head tothe car. The draw-head has 4the commonbellmouth,with three common piniholes in the bottom plate, Fig. 1, o oo, Fig. 8, the two side holes corresponding toholes in the upper plate,3

and the center hole correspondingwiththe outer end of the slot, (seeFig. 1,) to allow theA removalfof the automatic pin or block to make acenter coupling with the ordinary link and pin, if necessary. In thebot-tomtpl'ate of thc drawhead I niake a horseshoe-shaped groove 4largeenoughattlie curve to receivethellink',

ldeep'estfat@theinn'er curved end 'of-the groove, -and'ruuningjoutf tothef surface f# thebottom :plate fatf such1 anf angle as that "when: theinner movement thelink "has raised vitfa'ndpassed Vback of its l:end'o'fthe link' is: placed inl thefgroove the outer -end'will beon linewiththe center ofand'dih h. This groove holds the link in position, and,with the beveledprojections hereinafter specified, gives its outer endelevation for'a'utomatic coupling. v In the'vinner' 'end 4or` curve ofthis "groove iI-ni'iakef` a `small hole'thr'ough the bottom offthe`draw-head,fFig.` 8,:'gjto'lperniit the `thec'urvedf andfbeveled*shoulders or `proj ecltions inside th espace in th e'draw-head.-rIhes'e shoulders orprojections are zjust far' enough 'back' inthedraw-head ito permit the' link to pass freely "the lower -fpartcf theautomatic .pin-orblock. A'Byline Z,=Fig.'6, dotted1 line Zy Z,and'Figs7, Z-Z.)

(See Fig. 22; 'dotted' line' L Z,Fi'g.

4-Thefs'urfa'ce"of tlieseproj ec'tions isfshapedfsoine thing like-theupper half ofa@headlight-reliiector.

yTheynotl only curve' npward andfor- -wa'rd'from the-edge'oi' the'groove' in'fthe'lower .plateto' the ufpperzplate, assh'own, fFig. 2,31,

4'but also curve y'across' the inn'erspace, "as i'ndicated'by the1ine,"F-ig.-3,fl. These shoulders lorproj e'ctions, which haveanopening' between 4them,-Fig. 7 ,"m, operate to guidetlie'lin'kdr'rectlyunder' the automatic'pin or block' when two drawfheads corne'incontact, an'd'also serve to holdthe inncrendfof lthe linky down inthe4'groove h and elevate its outerendwh'env placed in'position' forlautomatic coupling. They also 'serve tofstop the' linkand' force itunder and behind thefautomaticpin or block inan'apaproaching drawlhea'd.Theautom'atic orselfsetting "and self-couplin g 'rpin -or blockworl'rsfreelyvertically yin the beveled slot in'th'e draw-head. "A top 'View isgiven, Fig. 1, d b, a side view, Fig. 4, andf'a vertical section,-Fig.f2,"a ci. VItV can only be put'fin'place b'y 'adown'ward 'andforward movement, andafter inserting thelower'part, Fig. 4, @and canonlybe removed bya'nupwa'rdand backward It falls'by its own 'weight'after inner end,^and effects acoupli'ng. -If two drawheads are broughtrapidly together, the couplGominoncast=iron "is Aamply strong.

ling is facilitated by the rebound of the' pin from the inner endofthebeveledslot. Work ing 'freely in the slot, it is constantly setautomatically and couples automatically. It may Vbe made of cast-iron,cast-steel, malleable iron,

aluminium, or other cast or wrought metal.

A portion of its outer end, Fig. 4, q, is fitted to the outencircularbeveled end of the slot in the drawhea'd. Abelow the upper plate of thedraw-head. It is-bevcled-from its outerend'towhere it rests Its outerend does not extend on the lower plate of the draw-head, is coinci-`dent with the lower plate for an inch (more or less) to the point p,when it is made with abevel upward and forward, as shown by the line z'p, VFi`g.'^4f. Both'end's'of the pin are' made rounding horizontal] y,to preventvthe wear of the pin 'or Ablock vand link interfering withafree vertical 'motion' in'theslot. Atsuch point, Fig.-2,9z', on

the'innere'n'd offsaid:automaticlpin or block as will insure the linkbeing carried about in' the -centerofthe'spaceinthe draw-head whentenlsionfis applied, `I n'ake a shal'lowllgroove or fdepression,into-whi`ch the force of afpull draws servesA not-'only to givethe linkall the play or freedfofxnfof motion which the space inthe`draw-headwill admit of, but'ialso distributes fthefresistancev offered'by the pin inlthe' 'direc- -tion'lof the dotted lines, 'iFigL-Q,s,\render Ving* it practically impossible to break' the-au-4tornaticpini or block. "Iimake that-portion' of thedrawihead,'-'asfshowmin Fig. v5,' d'ottedline "c, and beveled at' theouter end. asshowirin These projections of the pinor "block serve tohol'd it in itsrpr'operV position'for automatic coupling to'resistanytendency of tension isfapplied; and Valso `serve as a` roof to'keep"snow, Lsleetfciriders,85e., out'of the slot. This-projectionisbeveled upward anfdout- Vvward mythe outerend, Fig. V2,10;t 'prf',vent the `outer end -of the pin risi'ngfi'n uncoupling.

At vor liearrthe inner? end ofI the'auto'niatic pin orblock, andv ontheuppersurface'thereof, I make a Vertical'projection, Fig.f1, a, Fig.'4, a, inwhichis'a hole to receive ashort chain Vdraw-head, 'permitting'the link to pass out,

and at the saine time the automatic pin or IOO' block is incapableof anymovement whatever except to fall backlinto the position shown by itssection in Fig.4 2, set ready for coupling. The uncoupling may be doneby handor bya device substantially like that shown in Fig. l,ee,.ee,ff,ff, with the chain or rod afab- 'tached to the arm ff of theuncoupling device over the pin or block andthe chain or rod f t.

In Fig. 1, e e e e represent a common rod, of iron or other metal,sufficiently large to be practically stiff, attached to the body of thecar immediately over the dead-wood and below the car-floor by commonstaples, in which y it turns freely. One staple is driven each side ofand close to the arm f over the pin or block, to keep the rod e e inposition. At or near the sidesof the car I bend the ends of the rod e ee e vertically downward at about a right angle, forming a lever orhandle by which to uncouple from either side of the car,

obviating the necessity of going between cars for that purpose.

The arms f f may be welded to the rod or attached by setscrews. On aplatform-car the short arm f f is not required.

The chain or rod f truns to the top of a boxcar, where it may be worked,if desired, by a short foot-lever attached to the edge of the carroof.It may also end at tin a loose ring passed over the rod of thebrake-wheel, or otherwise conveniently attached to the car-roof. If arod is used instead of a chain, f t, it may be bent from a convenientpoint on the end ofthe car to the eye of the short arm f f, to which itmay be attached bya hook. The rod c c e e is attached far enough belowthe car-floor so that projecting timber or rails will inot'interferewith the unconpling device, and the short arm f f is placed sufficientlynear the side of the car so that the rod or chain will clear the end`door of the car, if any.

I usea link of the common form and size,

` except that it is made enough longer to reach behind the automatic pinor block. ThiseX- tra length is carried in the draw-heads, so that thedraw-heads are the usual distance apart,

permitting use of the side couplings. The link is setforautomaticcoupling by simply thrusting it into the draw-head as far as it will go.

will usually be set in the stationary car, though i for short runs itwill not jar out of position in a moving car.

The broken places in the rod at the end of the dead-wood Y indicategreater length than is shown in the drawings, the end of thecar notbeing shown.

I am now aware that prior to my invention car-couplings have been madewith coupling y pins or blocks or lever-catchesoperating vertically in aslot in the draw-head, and also that triple drawheads have been made. Ido not therefore claim such a combination, broadly, but only ashereinafter contained.

I am also nowaware that prior to my invention uncouplingf mechanismsconsisting of lever engagements have been made. I do not therefore claimsuch a combination, broadly, but

What I do claim as my invention, and desire to secure Letters -Patentfor, is-

1l. The bellfmouthed draw-head, Fig. l, with triple piu-holes o andbeveled slot k, adapted to receive the lever-catch or automatic block,with beveled horseshoe-shaped groove in the lower plate, lw, withwater-hole y, with shoulders or projections Zin the chamberbr cavity,with the upper plate thicker than the lower, with longitudinal openingm, constructed substantially asdescribed.

2. The combination of the block, or lever-catch, Fig. 4, slotteddraw-head, Fig. 1, all stantially as described.

3. The combination of the automatic pin, block, or lever-catch, Fig. 4,with the tripleslotted draw-head, Fig. l, and uncoupling mechanism, allconstructed substantially as described.

with the tripleconstructed sub- HAMLINE B. wILLiAMs.

with brace Z, all

automatic pin,

